Leaders from the six West Balkan states recently attended a summit in Berlin where agreements were signed to bring them closer to EU membership. The German Chancellor emphasized the importance of cooperation among the states in order for them to join the EU. Five out of six agreements were signed, with Serbia and Kosovo lifting restrictions on exports. Montenegro, which began the integration process over 20 years ago, is seen as the most promising country to join the EU, with expectations to meet all requirements by 2028. Chancellor Scholz expressed hope that the entire process for the West Balkan states would be completed before 2030. He also encouraged Serbia and Kosovo to improve their relations. The recent acceleration of memberships for Ukraine and Moldova due to the ongoing conflict in the region may leave a bitter taste for the Balkan states, with Croatia being the last state to join the EU in 2013. The Berlin Process aims to bring Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Albania, and North Macedonia together to enable them to become EU members. The summit saw discussions on the importance of collaboration and mutual support among the states as they work towards their goal of EU membership.
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